Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Bonds That Tie

Over at PBS.org I have written a post about the meaningful bonds that are forged during military service... among soldiers... among wives... among parents...

Throughout the course of our lifetimes, we make and break bonds with people. Some bonds are formed in friendship: schoolmates, neighbors, fellow workers. I have close friends from each of those groups. I maintain, however, that the bonds forged in military service are perhaps the strongest of all bonds. Stronger than steel. Stronger than adversity. Stronger than time.

We all know the story of veterans sittin' around and one says, "No shit!! There I was..." followed by a story of improbability or hilarity, typically punctuated with profanity, irreverent phrases and sordid images. It will end with much backslapping and hearty handshakes. The circle might contain members of a single unit or a single war, or it might contain an assortment of veterans from many of this nation's conflicts. But they are bonded and tied to each other by the commonality of their service. Some are bonded by the mettle and the blood of battle. You need look no further than the Illiador the St. Crispen's Day speech from Shakespeare's Henry V for evidence of the emotional connection these men share.

[snip]

Some of my closest friends today are people I didn't know before my son deployed. We met via military blogs (including my own) and private online Internet forums established by parents of soldiers — one by a Third Infantry Division parent, another established by military moms for military moms. These were places to share information, to share worry, to celebrate good news and to commiserate when the news was bad. These were places that let us share this bond, hammered and shaped by our worry for our sons and daughters.

These relationships are equal parts ethereal and practical; as much emotional as they are physical. It involves both the spiritual and the material worlds — prayers and novena candles as well as care packages and cookie recipes. It is an inclusive sisterhood for which we did not volunteer, but in which we are now forever members.

4 Comments:

WOW You are soo right.. and why do I say that this week.. because one of those bonds was STRIPPED from us..It's sad, but refreshing in a way to see EVERYONE (from our Military relationships) come to the forefront and support EACH other.. Man I can't believe it..Well I can actually because my BEST friends, the ones I speak to and stay in contact with most are in the Air Force but now one of them is gone..Thank you for this message..

Thank you from the bottom of my soul for ALL that you do and have done to protect this great nation of ours.

Your returning brothers and sisters need your vote. LifeQuest has created an effective program called EaglQuest that is designed to Re-ignite the fire of soldiers who are experiencing difficulty transitioning back into an emotionally and physically safe place. LifeQuest is currently participating in a contest (Pepsi Refresh that will help us to raise the money we need to help as many wounded warriors as we possibly can. Please go to the following link

http://www.refresheverything.com/LifeQuestTransitions

Vote once everyday till the end of this month. Then tell EVERYONE that you know by whatever means.

To everyone that LOVES our amazing soldiers. I realize this a little out of place, so I do apologize. But, my message is important, and I will do whatever it takes to help our soldiers.

Please help me get this message out!

LifeQuest has created an effective program called EagleQuest that is designed to Re-ignite the fire of soldiers who are experiencing difficulty transitioning back into an emotionally and physically safe place. LifeQuest is currently participating in a contest (Pepsi Refresh) that will help us to raise the money we need to help as many Wounded Warriors as we possibly can. Please go to the following link and vote for our soldiers.

http://www.refresheverything.com/LifeQuestTransitions

Vote once everyday till the end of this month. Tell EVERYONE that you know by whatever means.